Panthers pounce for first piece of silverware

BARRY CAMPBELL, the club president of Pentland Panthers, still hasn’t come down to Earth yet after his under-13 squad won their first piece of silverware in this their inaugural year in the Eastern Region Youth FA.

And what made it more enjoyable was the fact that more than 100 or so people travelled to Hallhill Sports Centre in Dunbar to support the team in their 2-0 victory over Longniddry Villa in the final of the Polar Foods Cup.

Earlier in the week, Panthers had lost 2-1 to Longniddry in the League Cup and the final was a chance for quick revenge. Panthers started strongly and had most of the possession in the first half but it took a while to break down the strong Longniddry defence.

The first goal came midway through the first half after a series of corners.

Jason Hunter curled a high ball from the corner into the box and though there were claims that he had scored direct from the kick, Ross Irvine slammed the ball into the net to put it beyond doubt.

As the half neared the interval, Longniddry had their best chance when their big winger fired a fierce shot across goal from the left, but Panther keeper Lloyd Hall dived across his area to tip the ball past the post. After the break, Longniddry came out fired up and were not giving up the game without a fight.

There was a lot of good football being played from both teams which entertained the large crowd and Longniddry had the upper hand for a spell but the Panthers defence held out.

Then came the goal of the game - and possibly the season - when Hunter picked up the ball on the wide right and, after looking up to see where the keeper was, fired home a beautiful shot high into the net from fully 25 yards out.

With ten minutes left, Hall saved a shot with his knees to claim the team’s first clean sheet of the season and duly earned the man of the match award for Panthers.

Pentland Panthers: Lloyd Hall, Iain Mortimer, Colin Campbell, Stuart Shand, Richard Fraser, Sam Campbell, Chris Threlfall, Ross Irvine, Martin Smith, Jason Hunter, Scott Greenfield, Murray Douglas, Iain Cackette, Elliot Wilson, Douglas Rice, Sean Blake.

Longniddry Villa: Gordon White, David Lockie, Keir Blackwood, Dale Gordon, Christopher Guinney, Sandy Neison, Sean Thomson, Jamie Greig, Liam Brown, Craig Pollock, Nicholas Henderson, Ross Parkin.

Referee: Peter Imrie.